We're just a few days away from getting a peek at Marvel's star-spangled hero CAPTAIN AMERICA during his Super Bowl spot, but for now here's a bit more talk about the First Avenger.

Brit actor Dominic Cooper (MAMMA MIA, THE DUCHESS) is playing WWII-era Howard Stark, the man who will later become John Slattery and posthumously teach son Tony the key to the future. Cooper tells Vulture about Stark's place in the Marvel movie mythology: "We learn the whole idea of where Stark Industries comes from, which is out of pure curiosity and creative juices and excitement towards thinking of the future and developing things for good. He’s a Howard Hughes. He’s a guy that loves inventing, that’s extremely intelligent, and that loves his lifestyle as well."

While Cooper's Stark doesn't see any action, he's involved in making Cap a better soldier: " You'renever quite sure where he’s been or where he’s just come from. And it’s always like he’s just come from somewhere in a tuxedo, from showing people his inventions and his new flying machines. He’s great fun. He’s important because he’s part of the machinery that helps Captain America manipulate his body."

Meanwhile, the LA Times caught up with director Joe Johnston, who had this to say about actor Sebastian Stan as Cap's battlefield "sidekick" Bucky (seen in the new snap below): "You know, he was originally up for the lead, for the Steve Rogers role, but he didn’t have quite the same earnest, I-want-to-fight-for-my-country aura that Chris has for this role. Sebastian has a little bit of the bad boy, he’s a little bit of the James Dean type and that goes somewhat counter to the general perception of Steve Rogers. He wasn’t quite right for Captain America, but I think he’s perfect for Bucky because, really, he can have a little bit of that dark side."

Johnston also says this won't be the traditional Robin-to-Batman type of deal: "We took some liberties with the relationship between the two guys. In our story, Bucky is already in the service, he’s already joined up and is being sent overseas while Steve is still struggling to get in the army. That’s different than what you may have read in the comics. It adds a nuance to the relationship that pays off later. They’re closer in age, too — they’re virtually the same age. That’s not the case at all if you go back to the old comics."